Shed-forming apparatus on a loom

ABSTRACT

A shed-forming apparatus on a wave-type loom wherein a plurality of separate sheds move one after the other simultaneously across the width of the loom, a shuttle carrying a weft thread moving in each of the separate sheds and the warp threads forming the sheds are actuated by heddles, the apparatus comprising a plurality of heddles divided into groups which execute phase-displaced movements, the periodicity of these movements being repeated at intervals corresponding to the shuttle-pitchs; drive means for causing selected groups of heddles to execute these movements; and a movement-imparting element connected to those groups of heddles driven by said drive means and to other heddles not driven by said drive means. The heddles and the movementimparting elements linked therewith are disposed in one plane, are movable therein, and are arranged so that actuation of the selected group of heddles by the drive means also causes actuation of the other groups of heddles.

llnite States Patent Strauss [54] SHED-FORMING APPARATUS ON A LOOM I [72] Inventor: Edgar H. Strauss, Ruti/Zurich. Switzer- 1 land [73] Assignee:

Caspar Honegger, Ruti/Zurich, Switzerland 22 Filed: Nov. 10, 1969 [21] Appl.No.: 875,034

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 13, 1968 Switzerland ..16901/68 [52] US. Cl .139/12, 139/55, 139/93 [51] Int. Cl. ..D03d 47/26 [58] fieldotSearch ..139/12,1,17,55,57,91, 139/93 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,258,035 6/1966 Fend ..l39/l2 3,263,705 8/1966 Rossmann .139/ 12 Ruti Machinery Works, Ltd., formerly Feb. 8, 1972 Attorney-Donald D. Denton [57] ABSTRACT A shed-forming apparatus on a wave-type loom wherein a plurality of separate sheds move one after the other simultaneously across the width of the loom a shuttle carrying a weft thread moving in each of the separate sheds and the warp threads forming the sheds are actuated by heddles, the apparatus comprising a plurality of heddles divided into groups which execute phase-displaced movements, the periodicity of these movements being repeated at intervals corresponding to the shuttle-pitchs; drive means for causing selected groups of heddles to execute these movements; and a movementimparting element connected to those groups of heddles driven by said drive means and to other heddles not driven by said drive means. The heddles and the movement-imparting elements linked therewith are disposed in one plane, are movable therein, and are arranged so that actuation of the selected group of heddles by the drive means also causes actuation of the other groups of heddles.

22 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures as 47 a7 PATENTED FEB 81872 31540.3 4

SHEEY 1 BF 7 PATENIED FEB 81972 SHEET 2 OF 7 N t W PATENIED FEB 81972 sum 3 05 7 m 5Q a w r w a J W \H SWF 9v 9% 4m mm QM mm Wm 6 H a N r M N v. k 2 wmmm a F W N R f m 6% wmmm 9w QM mm Wm A T w a J A & v w k QM QM QM #m mm 9v .mmwm

PAMTENTED FEB 8:972

sum 5 or 7 9 m m m mmmhmmmy mmm mm QW IIIIIIII. RW I QM H II IIIIII Mm fiIIIIIIII m PATENTED FEB 81972 SHEET 7 BF 7 QRN SHED-FORMING APPARATUS ON A LOOM This invention relates to shed-forming equipment or apparatus on a wave-type loom wherein separate sheds move one after another in an undulatory movement across the width of the loom during operation thereof and the warp threads fonning the sheds are actuated by heddles, said apparatus comprising a plurality of heddles divided into groups which execute phase-displaced movements in accordance with the order in which the groups are arranged, the periodicity of these movements being repeated at intervals corresponding to the shuttle-pitchs.

In wave-type looms or weaving machines, a shuttle moves in each of the sheds that are moved in an undulatory manner, so that when such looms are in operation, a plurality of shuttles continuously move one after the other over the width of the machine. Each of the shuttles inserts a weft thread into a shed during its movement across the loom. After a shuttle has passed through a given point in its path across the loom and prior to the arrival of the next shuttle at this point, the weft thread is beaten up and the shed is changed.

The heddles used for forming the changing sheds can, in fact, be moved in such a way that they form a continuously moving wave curve. Such a mode of operation is, however, complicated, so that it might be uneconomical in terms of the advantages attainable. For the sake of a simpler construction, the heddles are advantageously divided into groups, and the movements of the heddles are differently phased, so that the difference in phase between adjacent groups is such that an undulatory shed-forming movement results.

In a known arrangement for forming such sheds, the heddles of each group are held in separate frames and each frame is moved by a separate drive member. This means that this arrangement requires a large number of drive members and a separate control means for each of them, so that the arrangement is rendered complicated. Furthermore, no heddles can be fitted at the places or locations where the sides of the frames are physically located and this has a deleterious efiect upon the quality of the weave.

In order to be able to use the space needed for the many frame sides for accommodating the heddles as well, i.e., in order also to be able to fit heddles at the physical locations where these end supports of the frames occur, it is possible to provide frames which extend over the entire width of the loom. In such an arrangement, there are secured to each frame those groups of heddles that move in phase with each other. If the heddles are divided into, for example, four groups over a distance corresponding to a wavelength of the undulatory movement of the reeds (i.e., the shuttle-pitch) or the distance between the forward ends of two successive shuttles (which may also be called shuttle-pitch") then in the case of a two-thread repeat (basket or plane weave) the first, ffth, ninth group and so on are secured to the same frame for forming one-half of the shed formation. In this case, with four groups, four frames are necessary for a basket weave in order to produce one-half of the shed formation. The entire shed formation in the case of a basket weave therefore requires eight frames. This number is thus four times the number of threads in the draw-in repeat. Since, in order for the heddles not to have to execute excessively large movements, they cannot be at too great a distance from the path of the shuttles, the limit to the practical possibilities is approached in an arrangement of this kind. Thus, a system corresponding or analogous to this arrangement is no longer found to be suitable in the case of complicated weaves. A six-thread repeat, for instance, would require 24 frames. The frames, arranged side-by-side, therefore, require too much space.

Advantageously, the present invention eliminates the above disadvantages.

Thus, this invention contemplates a shed-forming apparatus on a wave-type loom wherein separate sheds move one after the other in an undulatory movement across the width of the loom during operation thereof, a plurality of shuttles each carrying a weft thread continuously move one after the other along a path over the width of the loom, a shuttle moving in each of the separate sheds, and the warp threads fonning the sheds are actuated by heddles, divided into groups, these groups executing phase-displaced movements in accordance with the order in which the groups are arranged and the periodicity of these movements being repeated at intervals across the loom corresponding to the shuttle-pitchs, said apparatus being characterized in that when the loom is in operation, of the heddles which have differently phased movements, those of a first and at least of a second phase are each motionally connected to a movement-imparting element or member and these heddles and the movement-imparting elements linked therewith are disposed in one plane and are movable therein and these heddles (or the movement-imparting elements) pass through openings'each having a configuration that permits them to move relatively to each other in an unrestricted manner.

The invention and further advantages thereof will now be explained in detail by reference to its preferred embodiments and to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wave-type loom in which the position and arrangement of the shed-forming apparatus of this invention is shown;

FIG. 2 shows a cross section of shed-forming apparatus at a right angle to the path of movement of the shuttles;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the novel heddles of this invention used in conjunction with the apparatus shown in F IG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the heddle arrangement shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the apparatus for producing another weave and which is similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 4;

FIG. 6 shows yet another embodiment of a heddle arrangement in the shed-forming apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration showing details of the heddle arrangement shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the movement of the heddles in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

The same reference numerals are used in all the figures to indicate like elements.

The perspective view of a multiphase weaving machine or wave-type loom in FIG. 1 shows the position of the shed-forming apparatus or equipment on this loom. The warp threads 12 run from a warp beam 11 via the guide rolls l3 and 14 and a warp thread monitor 15 around a roll 16, which can take the form of a shed-equalizing roll. Immediately beyond the roll 16, the warp threads 12 are subject to a shed formation by a shedding arrangement comprising substantially horizontal heddles 30, an open shed 17 being present at the position of the forward portion of each inserting member or shuttle l8, and a shed-change taking place between each two adjacent shuttles 18. The relative positions of these sheds are indicated in the drawing by appropriate hatching. For the purpose of weaving, a plurality of weft-inserting members in the form of shuttles 18 are provided, and these move simultaneously one after the other over the width of the loom. The shuttles 18 are moved forward by the reeds 19 which act as drive means or members. These reeds also serve to beat up the inserted weft threads at the beat-up or fell 20 of the fabric. The shuttles 18 are guided in each shed 17 by the warp threads 12. The reeds 19 are incorporated in the support and drive arrangement 28 which is firmly secured to the frame 29 of the loom. The two worm shafts 21 and 22, extending through the arrangement 28, impart movement to the reeds 19. As a result of the rotation of the worm shafts 21 and 22, the reeds 19 are swung about a pivot (indicated by reference numeral 53 in FIG. 2) in such a way that each reed 19 is always slightly ahead of the reed preceding it, in its cycle of movement. In this way, there is produced in the reeds 19 as a whole an undulatory movement proceeding from right to left in FIG. 1, the shuttles 18 being carried along the reeds by this movement. The sheds 17 also move from right to left at the same speed. The woven material 23 is wound on to the cloth beam 26 by the pull-in roller 24 and the pressure roller 25.

FIG. 2 shows details of the support and drive arrangement 28 and is a view taken perpendicular to the path of the shuttles 18 and to the worm shafts 21 and 22. The portions of the reeds 19 shown in the drawing each indicate one of the end positions in their swinging movements. Between the warp threads forming the shed 17 are the shuttles 18, movable by means of the reeds 19. Each of the reeds is disposed between two broadfaced, flat guide elements or plates 31, one of which can be seen in FIG. 2 in a side view. A very considerable number of guide elements are massed together in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. In this arrangement, the guide elements 31 alternate with the reeds 19. The guide elements 31 are thin stamped sheets of metal or plastic material arranged parallel with each other, which hold the reeds at the required distance apart from each other. By means of rods 32 which pass transversely through the guide elements 31, the elements are held together to form a unit comprising a large number of such elements; the distance between adjacent guide elements 31 being determined by spacer pieces fitted between them and held by the rods 32.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is used for the weaving of a twothread repeat (basket weave). In this embodiment, the heddles 33 and 34, for forming the sheds, are likewise fitted between the guide elements 31 and can move between them. FIG. 3 shows four different kinds or groups of elements (designated by reference numerals I-IV respectively) which can be used as heddles 33 or 34. These elements are designed as flat heddles. Each heddle 33, 34 is located between two guide elements 31, the side faces of the heddles 33 and 34 extending parallel with the side faces of the guide elements 31. In this way the heddles 33 and 34, which move in their longitudinal direction for forming each of the sheds, are prevented from bending laterally. The heddles 33 contain an eye 35 and the heddles 34 an eye 36, through each of which a warp thread can be drawn.

Some of the heddles 33 and 34 are connected to the double levers 39 and 40, respectively, by way of drive bars 37 and 38 respectively (FIG. 2), on the ends opposite the eyes 35 and 36. These levers 39, 40 can be swung about the pivot 45 and are continuously linked to the eccentric wheels 43 and 44, respectively, by their ends secured to the rollers 41 and 42, respectively. The eccentric wheels 43, 44 are rotated by means of the shaft 46. By rotating the eccentrics 43 and 44, the flat heddles 33 and 34, connected to a drive, are thus reciprocated in their longitudinal direction for the purpose of forming the sheds. The drive bars 37 and 38 can be driven by a heald machine instead of through the eccentrics 43 and 44.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a portion of the arrangement of heddles in FIG. 1. For the sake of clarity, the reeds 19 and the worm shafts 21 and 22 producing their swinging movement are not shown. For the same reason, the distances between the guide plates or elements 31 and the heddles 33 and 34 as well as the thickness of the heddles are shown exaggerated, i.e., enlarged in size. As heretofore noted, the heddles 33 and 34 are divided into groups I, II, III and IV. Each group can, for example, comprise ten to thirty heddles 33 and 34. Thus, while only two heddles 33 and 34 per group and per shed-half are shown in FIG. 4, this represents many fewer heddles than are actually present. This representation is used for the sake of clarity in the drawing. The upper heddles 33 (see FIG. 2) of each of the groups I, II, III and IV which form one shed-half and are positioned within a shuttle pitch 61, are held at their ends remote from the eyes 35, by a transverse rod 47, common to these heddles. In a similar manner, the heddles 34 of each of the groups I, II, III and IV, which form the other shed-half and are positioned within the shuttle pitch 61, are held by a transverse rod 48 common to these heddles. These transverse rods 47 and 48, as seen in FIG. 2, are coupled to the eccentric drive elements 43 and 44, respectively via the previously mentioned rods or drive bars 37 and 38. Between each of the adjacent guide elements 31 there is arranged one of the heddles 33 and one of the heddles 34, one above the other. Thus, in plan view, the elements 33 cover the elements 34. In the schematic illustration of FIG. 4, however, the heddles 33 and 34 are shown side by side, to provide a clearer pictorial explanation of this arrangement.

FIG. 3 shows the heddles 33 and 34 used in the embodiment of the loom construction illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4. The top type of heddle construction is used for group II, the type of heddle construction second from the bottom is used for the heddles of group III and the bottom type of heddle construction is used for group IV. Each of the heddles 33 and 34 contains an orifice 49 and three slots 50, which are distributed over the length of each heddle. In the case of the heddles 33 and 34 of group I, the orifice 49, as shown in FIG. 3, is located farthest to the left or to the front, in the case of group II second from the left, in the case of group III third from the left, and in the case of group IV in the extreme right position or farthest to the rear. Slots 51 are also present in the guide elements 31. When the heddles 33 and 34 are fitted between the guide elements 31, each of the slots 50 in the heddles 33 and 34 registers with a slot 51 in the guide elements 31.

Inserted through the orifices 49 of the heddles 33 and 34, fitted between the guide elements 31, are rodlike movementimparting elements 52 which are disposed at right angles to the guide elements 31 and are preferably of rectangular cross section. The extent of these orifices 49 is such that the rods 52 which pass through them bear against the boundaries of the orifices 49 in the longitudinal direction of the heddles 33 and 34. The heddles 33 of group I and the heddles 34 of this group are penetrated by the two foremost movement-imparting elements 52 (i.e., left in FIG. 2, top in FIG. 3). The position of these heddles in their longitudinal direction is thus determined by the position of the movement-imparting elements 52 which pass through them. The foremost rod 52 thereforepenetrates the orifices 49 of the heddles 34 in all of the groups I (shown in FIG. 4). It also passes the foremost slot in the heddles 34 of all the other groups II, III and IV. The orifices 49 in all the heddles 33 of groups I are likewise penetrated by the second movement-imparting element 52 from the front, which furthermore passes through the foremost slot 50 in the heddles 33 of groups II, III and IV. Similar conditions also apply in the case of the movement-imparting elements or rods 52 and the heddles 33 and 34 of the other groups II, III and IV. In the case of group IV, for example, this means that the rearmost rod 52 passes both through the orifices 49 in the heddles 34 of all of the groups IV and through the rearmost slot 50 in the heddles 34 of the other groups I, II and III, and that the second rod 52 from the rear passes through the orifices 49 in the heddles 33 of all of the groups IV as well as through the rearmost slot in all the heddles 33 of the other groups I, II and III. In all, eight movement-imparting elements 52 are used, each of which precisely detennines the position of the heddles 33 or 34 of one of the groups I, II, III or IV in their longitudinal direction.

The rods 52 also pass through corresponding slots 51 in the guide elements 31. Rods 52 are disposed to lie in the transverse direction of these slots 51 precisely against their boundaries and are thus held by them, but are slidable in the longitudinal direction thereof. Since the width of the slots 50 in the heddles 33 and 34 is such that the rods 52 likewise bear against their broad sides, a guiding of the heddles 33 and 34 is thus obtained, whereby they are also held in their horizontal position of FIG. 2 and in their transverse direction respectively. As mentioned earlier, the heddles 33 and 34 are prevented from bending by the guide elements 31.

Upon transverse movement of one of the rods 52, i.e., upon movement in the longitudinal direction of the heddles 33 and 34, those heddles, having orifices 49 through which the rod 52 passes, are moved in their longitudinal direction. Those heddles, having slots 50 through which this rod 52 passes, are not affected by this movement of the rod, since the rod 52 is free to slide in the longitudinal direction of the slots 50.

When the loom operates, the worm shafts 21 and 22 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 cause the reeds 19 to swing about their pivotal axes 53 in such a manner that their forward ends as a whole form an undulating line of the shape seen in FIG. 1, this undulating line moving to the left. The sheds 17 (FIG. I) associated with each shuttle 18, must move at the same speed as that at which the shuttles 18 move to the left. As originally mentioned, the sheds are not formed in such manner that the warp threads or the heddles 33 and 34 form a continuous curve as is the case with the reeds 19; instead the travel of the sheds is caused by the heddles 33 and 34 moving in groups.

Referring to the view shown in FIG. 4, the movement of the shuttles I8 is from left to right. It will be appreciated that in FIGS. 1 and 4 right and left are interchanged, since the view in FIG. 4 is a plan view in which the drive arrangements provided for the groups I, II, III and IV, are generally indicated in FIG. 4 by the reference numeral 54. In the position of the shuttles 18 as illustrated, the heddles 33 and 34 of groups I execute the shed-opening movement. Some warp threads controlled by these groups or heddles are therefore looped round the rearmost portions of the shuttles 18. The heddles 33 and 34 of group II are in the position in which the sheds are closed. The warp threads actuated by these heddles therefore lie against the walls of the shuttles. In this phase of operations, the shuttles are thus laterally held by the warp threads controlled by the heddles of groups I and II. Compared with the movements of the heddles of group I, the movement of the heddles of group II are shifted through 90, i.e., their associated discs 43 and 44 are displaced 90 on the shaft 46 and lag behind the movement of group I. The heddles of group III are in a closing phase of operations and lag 180 behind group I. Their phase displacement relatively to group II is 90. The heddles of group IV are accordingly in the open shed position. They lag 270 behind the heddies of group I.

For the purpose of explaining the mode of operation of the heddle drive, it will be assumed that FIG. 4 shows that end of the shaft arrangement of the loom that is at the right-hand end of FIG. 1.

The heddle groups I, II, III and IV follow each other in succession to the other end (not shown in FIG. 4) of the shedforming apparatus in the sequence illustrated. The last groups I, II, III and IV (not shown in FIG. 4) present on the loom at the other end also have drives which are identical to the drive arrangements 54 comprising the elements 37 to 48.

By rotating the shaft 46 (see also FIG. 2) the eccentric discs 43 and 44 associated with the heddles of group I, as well as the eccentric discs of the heddles in the remaining groups II, III and IV on both sides of the loom are caused to rotate. This causes the heddles of groups I, II, III and IV, linked to these eccentrics, to execute reciprocatory horizontal movements. The movements of neighboring or adjacent groups of heddles, as already mentioned, are displaced from each other through 90". The two eccentric discs 43 and 44 of group I and thus the movements of the heddles 33 and 34 of this group also continuously have a phase-difference relatively to each other of 180. The same applies in the case of the eccentrics and the heddles 33 and 34 of groups I], III and IV. Precisely the same conditions are also present in the case of the previously mentioned drives (not shown in Figure 4) positioned on the other side of the loom.

Because of the reciprocatory movement of the heddles 33 and 34 of the outermost groups I on the left-hand and righthand sides of the loom, the two rods 52 (shown farthest to the left in Figure 2 and uppermost in Figure 4), which are pushed through the openings 49 of these heddles 33 and 34, are driven along. Thus the rods move backwards and forwards in horizontal planes at right angles to their longitudinal direction. These rods 52 also pass through the orifices 49 in the heddles 33 and 34 of the other groups I, for which no drives 54 are provided. The rods 52 therefore entrain these heddles 33 and 34 in their reciprocatory movement. Thus, all the heddles 33 and all the heddles 34 of groups I execute a movement of op posite phase. As can be seen from Figure 3, the heddles 33 and 34 of the groups II, III and IV have slots 50 at the positions corresponding to the orifices 49 in the heddles 33 and 34 of groups I. The slots 50 are of such length that the rods 52 of groups I are enables to move freely in all conditions, so that the heddles of groups II, III and IV are not affected by the movement of the rods 52 of group I.

A rod 52 is likewise fitted through each of the orifices 49 in the heddles 33 and 34 of groups II. These rods, as shown, are located precisely one above the other in FIG. 4. The heddles of the outermost groups II on both sides of the loom are likewise each driven by a drive arrangement 54. The heddles so driven move the rods 52, that pass through the orifices 49 of all the heddles 33 and 34 of groups II, so that all the other heddles 33 and 34 of groups II are driven by these two rods 52.

At the position of the orifices 49 in the heddles 33 and 34 of groups II, the heddles 33 and 34 of groups I, III and IV have slots 50, as shown in Figure 3. These are again of such length that the two rods of groups II can move freely in all conditions, so that the heddles of groups I, III and IV are not affected by the movements of the rods or the guide elements 52 of group II.

The arrangement is exactly the same for groups III and IV. Accordingly any further description of this arrangement would be repetitious, and is therefore omitted.

In producing a basket weave, the draw-in repeat is formed by two threads. Considering only the outermost four groups I, II, III and IV, i.e., the heddles present in the individual shuttlepitch 6]. it will be seen that, in the case of each of the groups I, II, III and IV, the heddles 33 move like threads of the draw-in repeats, e.g., the odd-numbered threads of the succession. These build one shed-half. In the case of each of the groups I, II, III and IV, the heddles 34 likewise move like threads of the draw-in repeats, which in this instance are the even-numbered threads. These form the other half of the shed. The heddles 33 of the odd-numbered warp threads of groups I, II III and IV are each coupled to a movement-imparting member 52 (33) and these heddles 33 and the movement-imparting members 52 (33) are disposed in the same plane. The heddles 34, which move the even-numbered warp threads of each of the groups I, II, III and IV and are each linked to a movement-imparting member 52 (34), are also disposed in the same plane.

It can thus be seen that using the apparatus illustrated, a plurality of sheds are formed over the width of the loom (one shed for each shuttle-pitch), only two levels of heddles 33 and 34 being required for a basket weave, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. The reason being that the heddles 33 and 34 are moved by movement-imparting members 52 and that these elements pass one through the other, it being possible, because of the provision of appropriate slots 50, to provide for each shuttlepitch an unrestricted relative movement to produce differently phased movements of the four groups. It is therefore possible to bring all the heddles 33 and 34 very close to the path of the shuttles. Just as in a conventional loom two shafts are required for a basket weave, in the equipment of the present invention this weave can be produced with two levels of heddles 33 and 34.

In wide looms deflection of the rods 52 can occur as a result of the large number of heddles 33 and 34 that are driven. This can be avoided by providing, in addition to the drive arrangements 54 at the two ends of the loom, further drive arrangements distributed at prescribed intervals over the lengths of the shafts 45 and 46. It has also been found that it is not necessary to provide the outer drive arrangements 54 on the outermost groups. Generally, it is even advantageous to provide the outer drive arrangements 54 on groups I, II, III and IV which are displaced from the edge towards the interior of the loom by a distance equivalent to some distances of shuttle-pitches. In order to achieve even loading over the entire width of the loom, the drive points for the drive arrangements 54 are at least approximately symmetrically distributed, relatively to the centers of the movement-imparting members 52.

The possibility of further modifications of the form of construction described will be mentioned at this point. In the first place, the heddles may be twice as long and each heddle may contain one orifice and seven slots. It will be seen that with such an arrangement all the heddles and therefore all the movement-imparting members can be fitted in the same plane. This results in the advantage that all the heddles can be located as closely as possible to the shuttles 18. An arrangement of this kind can be considered when the required density of the warp threads is not too great.

In the opposite case, where the density of the warp threads must be great, both the heddles 33 and the heddles 34 may be distributed over two planes. In this case, the heddles 33 for the first, fifth threads and so on are located on one plane and the heddles 33 for the third, seventh threads and so on in another plane. The same applies in the case of the even-numbered threads. In this instance the heddles are distributed over four planes, and four heddles can be provided between each two guide elements 31. However, in the widthwise direction of the loom, twice as many heddles can be fitted as is the case in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 to 4.

Figure 5 is a schematic view, seen from the front, of a further embodiment of the apparatus similar to that shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. This construction is used for producing complicated weaves. The figure shows three shuttles, 18a, 18b and 180, which are moved by the reeds 19 from right to left when the rising forward ends of the reeds 19 press against the inclined rear edges of the shuttles 18. In this example, rows of heddles 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59 of the type shown in Figure 3 are provided. Only the front ends of the heddles are shown and, for the sake of clarity, only a few guide elements 31 in the group I are shown on the right-hand side. All the rows of heddles 55 to 59 are again divided into groups I, II, III and IV, like groups of heddles always being in the same operating phase. Also the heddles of each groups have the same construction. The assemblies comprising four groups I, II, III and IV each, arranged side by side, are again designated as being within shuttle-pitches 61, 62 and 63. The horizontal extent of each of the shuttle-pitches 61, 62 and 63 corresponds in a certain sense to half the wavelength of the wavelike movement of the heddles 55 to 59, or to a wavelength of the reeds 19.

For the sake of clarity, only four rows of heddles per group are shown in each group I, II, III and IV. Here too, it should again be noted that the actual apparatus comprises more than four heddles per group.

In the present case the apparatus is arranged to perform a five-thread draw-in repeat. The heddles 55 to 59 of each column are each connected with such warp threads as form a drawin repeat. All the heddles 55 of groups I, II, In and IV, e.g., over the distance of a shuttle-pitch 61, are connected to the same threads of the draw-in repeats and all the shuttles 55, e.g., of group I, are connected to the same movement-imparting member.

Assuming that Figure 5 illustrates the right-hand end of the heddle arrangement, the drive required for the heddles 55 to 59 can, for example, be carried out in such manner that there are provided for one of the shuttle-pitches 61, 62 or 63 drive assemblies which are similar to the drive arrangements 54. Each of the rows of shuttles 55 to 59 of group I may be driven by an eccentric. A dobby can, however, be provided for this group I. For rows 55 to 59 of groups II, III and IV, there are provided like drive means or arrangements, which operate at phase-shifts of 90, 180 and 270, respectively, in relation to the drive means of group I. In order to drive all the, heddles, in the case where eccentrics are used, 20 different eccentrics must be provided on the right-hand sides of the machine. The drives can be mounted alongside each other on a shaft (as shown in Figure 4), for example, the order given hereunder:

1. Five eccentrics working to a given program for heddles 55 to 59 of group I in the shuttle-pitch 61 with each of the heddles 55 to 59 comprising a separate phase.

2. Five eccentrics for the heddles 55 to 59 of group II of the shuttle-pitch 61, which lag by 90 behind the eccentrics of group I.

3. Five eccentrics for the heddles 55 to 59 of group III of the shuttle-pitch 61, which lag 180 behind the eccentrics of group I.

4. Five eccentrics for the heddles 55 to 59 ofgroup IV of the shuttle-pitch 61, which lag 270 behind the eccentrics of group I.

With this arrangement, each of these eccentrics actuates a movement-imparting member (of the type shown in Figure 4) of which there are thus twenty in all. A similar drive arrangement is, of course, necessary on the other side of the machine. As already mentioned, in order to prevent deflection of the rodlike movement-imparting members, still more drive arrangements can be provided along the movement-imparting members 52.

In the example of construction seen in Figure 5, each of the rows of heddles 55 to 59 of group I is connected to a movement-imparting member, i.e., the same threads of the draw-in repeats of group I are each connected via the heddles to a movement-imparting member. The same applies to each of these rows 55 to 59 for each of the groups II, III and IV. The four movement-imparting members of row 55, i.e., of the first thread of the repeats in groups I, II, III and IV are located in one plane, the four movement-imparting members of row 56, i.e., of the second thread of the repeat in groups I, II, III and IV are located in one plane, and so on. Thus, corresponding to the five-thread draw-in repeat, there are four movement-imparting members in each of five planes. In the present case shown in Figure 5, the heddles of the threads of each repeat are shown as disposed vertically one below the other and between the same guide elements 31. The heddles can, however, also be slightly ofi'set laterally of each other. This displacement can be to an extent such that only one heddle is located between each two neighboring guide elements.

In the illustrated position of the shuttles 18, the sheds formed by the heddles of groups I are open, the sheds formed by the heddles of groups II are opening (the weft threads embracing the rear portion of the shuttles 18), the sheds formed by the heddles of groups III are closed and those formed by the heddles of groups IV are closing. The movements of the heddles of the four groups I, II, III and IV are phase-displaced by between neighboring groups. In this arrangement, the heddles are therefore, likewise, provided with an opening 49 and three slots 50 as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 and 7 show an arrangement in which heddles 64 secured to frames 67 (I to IV) are provided with thread eyelets 66. The frames 67 act as movement-imparting members for the heddles 64 and are themselves moved in guides 65. The frames are all mounted in the same plane. Secured at the end zone of the long side of each frame is a drive element 68 by means of which each of the frames 67 can be reciprocated in its plane. The gaps 69 between the individual frames 67 are of such a dimension that sufficient space is present for the movements necessary for forming the shed. Since all the frames 67 are disposed in the same plane, it is necessary for the drive elements 68 of frame 67 II to pass through frames 67 l. The elements 68 for frames 67 III must likewise pass through the frames 67 I and 67 II and the elements 68 of the frame 67 IV through the frames 67 I, 67 II and 67 III. The corresponding requirement also holds as regards the heddles 64. In the case of these, the heddles 64 of frame 67 I pass through the other three frames 67 II, 67 III and 67 IV, the heddles of frame 67 III through the frames 67 IV.

An embodiment showing the method of fixing the heddles 64 to the frames 67 is illustrated in FIG. 7. This shows the area indicated by the arrow VII in FIG. 6. The individual heddles 64 are secured to the frame 67 IV by a retaining means 70, this means bearing against the outer edge of this frame 67 IV. The heddles 64 carried by the frame 67 III are secured in the same manner. In the frame 67 IV there is a gap 71, in which the heddles 64' can slide unrestrictedly in their longitudinal direction. Similar gaps are provided in the other frames.

In the case of a basket weave, the illustrated four movement-imparting members of frames 67 l to 67 IV are used for forming one half of the shed. For forming the second half of the shed there is provided a second heddle arrangement, not illustrated, which is identical with that shown in Figure 6 and is positioned directly behind it. For forming the shed, the oppositely arranged and corresponding frames 67 I, 67 II, 67 III and 67 IV or each heddle arrangement respectively move in phase opposition. In relation to frame 67 II disposed in the same plane, frame 67 I has a phase-displacement of 90. Also frame 67 III, disposed in this same plane has a phase-displacement of 90 in the same direction in relation to frame 67 II, and the movement of frame 67 IV, arranged in this plane, is likewise displaced in phase by 90 in the same direction relatively to frame 67 III.

The division of a shuttle-pitch 61, 62 and 63 or of a wavelength into four groups I, II, III and IV has been found advantageous. However, another division into, for example,

three, five or six groups can be used. In these cases, the phase difference between the various groups would be 120, 72 and 60 respectively. For a basket weave and with a division into four groups as shown in FIG. 4, the number of heddles 33 and 34 per group is generally between 20 and 100 in the case of normal thicknesses of thread, i.e., the number of heddles per half-shed and per group is between 10 and 50.

The insertion of the warp threads into the heddles will now be explained by reference to FIG. 8. This figure illustrates schematically a section at right angles to the path of the cloth 23 in FIG. 1 at the level of the shuttles l8, and the points of intersection of the warp threads 80 to 84, the shuttles 118, seen in section, and the division into the four groups I, II, III and IV are shown. Corresponding to the embodiment in FIG. 5, the warp threads 80 to 84 are moved by the heddles arranged in rows 55 to 59. If it is assumed that the number of threads in each groups is 60, for example, then 12 heddles (and 12 warp threads) are present in each of the rows 55 to 59 per group. The 12 warp threads, which are always moved in phase, are illustrated in FIG. 8 by a single warp thread. This has been done in order not to make the diagrammatic illustration too complicated and difficult to understand. In the actual arrangement on a loom, the illustrated succession of threads 80 to 84 is therefore repeated 12 times over each of groups I to IV. In other words, the illustrated threads 80 to 84 in each group represent a draw-in repeat. If FIGS. 5 and 8 are taken as corresponding, then 12 heddles 55, 12 heddles 56 and so on are present in each group. In the first shuttle-pitch 61, the heddles of row 55 move the 12 threads 80, i.e., the first threads of the draw-in repeats, the heddles of row 56 the 12 threads 81, i.e., the second threads of the draw-in repeats, and so on.

Referring to Figure 8, it will be seen that (the view being from above), the movement of the shuttles 18a, 18b and 180 is from right to left. The positions of the shed in each group are indicated by the phase angles 90, 180, and 270. It will be assumed that a twill weave is to be produced, the pattern of which is indicated at 85.

In group I of shuttle-pitch 63, the shuttle 18a, entering this group, finds the threads 81, 82, 83 and 84 at the rear of the shuttle path and the thread 80 at the front of the shuttle path, and an open shed position. In group II of the shuttle-pitch 63, the threads 80 and 84 are opening. In the previous group IV of shuttle-pitch 62 the threads 80 and 81 are closing. In group III of shuttle-pitch 62, the threads 80 and 81 are in the closed position of the shed. In group II of the shuttle-pitch 62, threads 80 and 81 are opening and in group I of the shuttle-pitch 62 the threads 80, 82, 83 and 84 are to the rear and thread 81 to the front. In group IV of the shuttle-pitch 61, the threads 81 and 82 are closing, and in group III of this shuttle-pitch they are moving through the closed shed position. In group II of shuttle-pitch 61, threads 81 and 82 are opening. In the immediately preceding group I, an open shed is present in which thread 82 are forward and in which threads 80, 81, 83 and 84 are to the rear. The movements described are indicated by arrows in FIG. 8.

The reference numeral 860 indicates the weft thread inserted by the shuttle 18a, and 86b the weft thread inserted by the shuttle 18b. Thread 8611 is shown as a dash line and thread 86b as a dash-dot line. The weft thread 86a or 86b is shown on one or other side of the center line 87 to indicate on which side of the warp threads it lies.

Referring again to FIG. 4, it will be seen that as the shuttle 18!; passes through the shed, the first, third, fifth warp threads and so on are to the front and the second, fourth warp threads and so on are to the rear of center of the shed. Because of the shed-change that has taken place, the reverse conditions must be present in the case of the shuttle that follows in the shuttle 18b, and also in the case of the shuttle 18a shown in the draw ing. In the case of these shuttles, the first, third, fifth warp threads and so on are to the rear, and the second, fourth, sixth warp threads and so on to the front. In order to obtain a weave that is free from defect, each individual shuttle must always encounter the same warp pattern during its passage over the entire width of the fabric. The threads immediately following each other in the sequence arrangement always move in phase opposition. As can be seen from FIG. 4, for a basket weave, the odd-numbered threads, which are connected to the heddles 33 (eyelet 35), must always move forward in the shuttlepitch 61 in phase with the even-numbered threads of shuttlepitch 62, which are likewise connected to the heddles 33.

In a corresponding manner, in the shuttle-pitch 61, the even-numbered threads together with the heddles 34 (eyelet 36) and, in the shuttle-pitch 62, the odd-numbered threads together with the heddles 34 (eyelet 36) move in phase. Groups II, III and IV operate in each shuttle-pitch in cor respondence with the associated group I, but with the appropriate phase displacement of 90, I80", and 270 respectively. In other words the state of affairs described is such that the movement of the odd-numbered threads in shuttle-pitch 62 can be considered as lagging behind the movement of the odd-numbered threads of shuttle-pitch 61. When a certain shuttle passes through, the odd-numbered threads of the pitch 62 of course execute the same movement as that executed by the odd-numbered threads of shuttle-pitch 6i when this particular shuttle passed through the pitch 61. Similarly, the movement of the movement-imparting member 52 (34) can be considered as a movement lagging behind that of the movement-imparting element 52 (33) by an amount corresponding to the interval between the passage of two successive shuttles. If, therefore, the odd-numbered threads of the shuttle pitch 611 (heddles 33) are motionally connected via heddles 33 to the movement-imparting member 52 (33), the odd-numbered threads of shuttle pitch 62 (heddles 34) must be linked to the trailing movement-imparting member 52 (34) and thus with the heddles 34. Put another way, the above situation means that in the case of groups of like phases which immediately follow each other e.g., groups I), the heddles for like threads of the draw-in repeats are motionally connected to the movement-imparting members which execute the same movement in immediate succession.

The following description shows that these conditions are also present in the case of the shed forming arrangement of Figures 5 and 8. It will be seen that here too, each of the three shuttles 18a, 18b and 180 must always encounter the same arrangement of warp threads fonning the shed, i.e., the same weave pattern, during the whole of its passage over the entire width of weave. On the other hand, in order to obtain a weave pattern, the shed must change in accordance with a prescribed program. In the example shown, this program is prescribed by the twill weave shown at 85. Since in accordance with the program, the prescribed weave pattern is moved along a place with each subsequent weft thread, this situation must be catered for from one shuttle-pitch to the next. In groups of like phase, heddles executing the same movements are therefrom moved along one place in the order in which they are arranged, from group to group or after each shuttle-pitch.

In FIG. 8, only one draw-in repeat is shown in each of the groups I to IV. If 60 threads, for example, are provided per group, the draw-in repeat is actually repeated 12 times in each group. The following distribution might exist in the embodiment of FIG. 8: Motionally connected to the first movementimparting member 50 are the heddles for threads 80 of group I of shuttle-pitch 61, the heddles for threads 84 of group I of shuttle-pitch 62, the heddles for threads 83 of group I of shuttle-pitch 63 and so on. Motionally connected to the second n A on movement-imparting member are the heddles for threads 80 of group II of shuttle-pitch 61, the heddles for threads 84 of group II of shuttle-pitch 62, the heddles for threads 83 of group II of shuttle-pitch 63 and so on. Motionally connected to a third movement-imparting member are the heddles for threads 80 of group III of shuttle-pitch 61, the heddles for threads 84 of group III of shuttle-pitch 62, the heddles for threads 83 of group III of shuttle-pitch 63 and so on. A corresponding situation applies in the case of a fourth movementimparting member and group IV. The four movement-imparting members mentioned are arranged in the uppermost plane of the heddles 55 in FIG. 5.

In a second plane there is a second arrangement of four movement-imparting members. The first of these is motionally connected to the heddles for threads 81 of group I of shuttlepitch 61, the heddles for threads 80 of group I of shuttle-pitch 62, the heddles of threads 84 of group I of shuttle-pitch 63 and so on. The second movement-imparting member in the second plane is motionally connected to the heddles for threads 81 of group II of pitch 61, the heddles for threads 80 of group II of shuttle-pitch 62, the heddles for threads 84 of group II of pitch 63, and so on. The heddles for the threads of groups III and IV are also motionally connected in accordance with the manner described. The movement-imparting members in the second plane are located in the plane of heddles 56 in FIG. 5. Accordingly, four movement-imparting members are also provided in each of the planes of heddles 57, 58 and 59 in FIG. 5.

Let it now be assumed that, in group I of shuttle-pitch 61, first the threads 80 of the draw-in repeats, then threads 81 and then threads 82 and so on, corresponding to the pattern shown at 85, are moved forward. Shuttle 18a is in the pitch 61 when threads 80 lift, shuttle 18b when threads 81 lift and shuttle 18c when threads 82 lift. If, on the other hand, the travel of shuttle 18a is followed, the heddles for threads 80 must of course always be to the front when this shuttle passes through all the shuttle-pitches. The thread 80 of group I of pitch 61 are lifted by a movement-imparting member disposed in the plane of the heddles 55. During the following passage of the shuttle through the pitch 62, i.e., after a delay equivalent to the interval to the next shuttle travel, the threads 80 are moved by a movement-imparting member disposed in the plane of the heddles 56.

Since, with this movement of the threads 80 in group I of the pitch 62, threads 81 in the pitch 61 are moved forward, the heddles 80 for the threads of group I of pitch 62 can be motionally connected to the movement-imparting member which actuates the heddles 81 of group I of pitch 61, the movement of this movement-imparting member thus lagging to an extent equal to the interval between immediately subsequent shuttle travels. In a similar manner, the threads 80 of group I of the pitch 63, the threads 81 of group I of the pitch 62 and the threads 82 of group I of the pitch 61 are moved by a movement-imparting member disposed in the plane of the heddles 57. It will therefore be understood that in the case of a succession of groups of like phase, e.g., of groups I, the heddles for like threads of the draw-in repeats, e.g., the threads 80, are connected with those movement-imparting members, the movements of which follow each other at intervals equal to that between immediately successive shuttle travels, or the movements of which follow each other at an interval equal to the period taken by a thread-inserting member 18 to pass through a shuttle-pitch 61.

The described conditions that have to be observed when drawing in the warp threads, likewise apply in the case of the heddle arrangement illustrated in FIG. 6 and 7.

What is claimed is:

1. A shed-forming apparatus on a wave-type loom wherein separate sheds move one after the other across the width of the loom, a plurality of shuttles, each carrying a weft thread, continuously move one after the other along a path through the loom, a shuttle moving in each of the separate sheds, and the warp threads forming the sheds are actuated by heddles; said apparatus comprising a plurality of heddles for forming the warp threads into sheds, said heddles being divided into groups that execute phase-displaced movements in accordance with the order in which the groups are arranged across the loom, the periodicity of these movements being repeated at intervals across the loom corresponding to the shuttle-pitches; drive means for causing selected groups of heddles to execute said movements; a movement-imparting element coupled with each of the heddles of a first phase and a movement-imparting element coupled with each of the heddles of a second phase, the heddles and the movement-imparting elements linked therewith being disposed in one plane and being movable therein; and a plurality of openings formed in said apparatus receiving said movement-imparting elements, each opening having a configuration that permits the heddles of said first phase and of said second phase and the movementimparting members linked therewith respectively to move relatively to each other in an unrestricted manner when driven by said drive means.

2. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 1 in which in each group of heddles, the heddles for like threads of the draw-in repeats are motionally connected to at least one movementimparting element and in the range of each shuttle-pitch, movement-imparting elements that are motionally connected to heddles for like threads of the draw-in repeats in differently phased groups of heddles, are disposed in the same plane.

3. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 2 in which in each group of heddles in a shuttle-pitch, a movement-imparting element is motionally connected to the heddles for like threads of the draw-in repeats and the heddles belonging to a given thread in the draw-in repeats of a shuttle-pitch and their associated movement-imparting elements are disposed in the same plane, so that the number of movement-imparting elements in each plane is equal to the number of differently phased groups per shuttle-pitch.

4. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 2 in which in each group of heddles, the heddles for the different threads of the draw-in repeats are each motionally connected to a movement-imparting element; and these movement-imparting elements, together with the heddles motionally connected to them, are disposed in different planes, so that the number of planes in which movement-imparting elements and heddles motionally connected thereto are arranged, is equal to the number of threads per draw-in repeat.

5. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 2 in which in immediately successive groups of like phase, the heddles of like threads of the draw-in repeats are motionally connected to movement-imparting elements, the movements of which follow each other at an interval which is equal to the time taken by a shuttle to travel over on shuttle-pitch.

6. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 1 in which in the case of a two-thread repeat, each of said groups having heddles that form half of the shed formation and that are each motionally connected to a movement-imparting element, the motionally connected heddles and the movement-imparting elements being arranged in a first plane, and those heddles in each of the groups that form the other half of the shed forma tion each being motionally connected to a movement-imparting element; the heddles forming the other half of the shed formation and the movement-imparting elements associated therewith being arranged in a second plane which is different from the first plane.

7. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 1 in which three to six groups of heddles are provided over one shuttle-pitch, said last-mentioned groups, during operation of the loom, having a difference in phase which is of equal magnitude between neighboring groups.

8. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 1 in which said heddles are guided by guide means and are each movable in directions along its longitudinal axis.

9. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 8 in which the guide means for the heddles comprise fiat, broad-faced guide elements, said heddles being arranged parallel with the sides of the guide elements.

10. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 9 in which the broad-faced guide elements perform the additional function of guiding swingable reeds which serve to move the shuttles across the loom.

ill. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 8 in which the heddles lying in said plane are arranged alongside each other and parallel with each other in a row, and said guide means comprise a plurality of said movement-imparting elements in the form of rods disposed parallel with said plane.

12. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 11 in which the heddles are each provided with said openings in the form of slots extending in the longitudinal direction thereof, and said rods pass through said slots, the lengths of the slots permitting unrestricted relative movement between the rods and the heddles in the longitudinal direction of the heddles, and the widths of the slots being determined by boundaries within which the rods lie.

13. The shed-forming apparatus of claim lll in which the rods are disposed transversely of flat broad-faced guide elements positioned between and parallel with the heddles and are held by slots contained in said heddles.

114. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 1 in which the movement-imparting elements comprise rods that are disposed transversely of the heddles and that pass through orifices in the heddles motionally connected thereto, the rods bearing flat against the boundaries of the orifices in the direction of movement of the heddles.

15. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 14 in which said openings comprise slots arranged along the length of each of said heddles, and the rods that pass through orifices in the heddles motionally connected therewith pass through the slots in the heddles not motionally connected therewith, said rods constituting means for guiding the heddles.

16. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 15 in which each of the heddles is of elongate shape, contains an orifice through which can pass the movement-imparting element motionally connected thereto, and contains at least one opening in the form of a slot extending in the longitudinal direction of the heddle, through which can be passed a movement-imparting element for moving other heddles, this latter movement-imparting element being movable in an unrestricted manner in the longitudinal direction of the slot.

17. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 16 in which the number of slots in the heddles is one less than the number of groups into which the heddles are divided over the distance equal to a shuttle-pitch.

18. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 14 in which the movement-imparting elements can be driven via said selected groups of heddles by drive means positioned in at least two drive points disposed approximately symmetrically in relation to the centers of the movement-imparting elements.

19. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 18 in which said selected group of heddles include the heddles of one group which are present at the drive points and which execute like movements, and said driving means includes a retaining member which holds all of the heddles of said one group.

20. A shed-forming apparatus on a wave-type loom wherein separate sheds move one after the other across the width of the loom, a plurality of shuttles, each carrying a weft thread, continuously move one after the other along a path through the loom, a shuttle moving in each of the separate sheds, and the warp threads into sheds, said heddles being divided into groups that execute phase displaced movements in accordance with the order in which the groups are arranged across the loom, the periodicity of these movements being repeated at intervals across the loom corresponding to the shuttle-pitches; movement-imparting elements, the heddles of one phase in each group being coupled with one of said movement-imparting elements, the heddles which have differently phased movements being coupled with different movementimparting elements, the movement-imparting elements and the heddles linked therewith being disposed in a single plane and bein movable therein; drive means for efiecting movement of e movement-imparting elements, and a plurality of openings formed in said movement-imparting elements, each opening having a configuration that permits differently phased groups of heddles and movement-imparting elements linked with these groups to move relatively to each other in an unrestricted manner when driven by said drive means.

21. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 20 in which the movement-imparting elements comprise heddle frames, the heddle frames located in the same plane being arranged concentrically one within the other; said openings being provided in each of the heddle frames and the heddles secured to the other heddle frames being free to move in their longitudinal directions through said openings.

22. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 21 in which each heddle frame is connected to drive elements of said drive means, the drive element of at least one heddle frame passing through the openings in the other heddle frames, thereby enabling an independent movement of these parts. 

1. A shed-forming apparatus on a wave-type loom wherein separate sheds move one after the other across the width of the loom, a plurality of shuttles, each carrying a weft thread, continuously move one after the other along a path through the loom, a shuttle moving in each of the separate sheds, and the warp threads forming the sheds are actuated by heddles; said apparatus comprising a plurality of heddles for forming the warp threads into sheds, said heddles being divided into groups that execute phase-displaced movements in accordance with the order in which the groups are arranged across the loom, the periodicity of these movements being repeated at intervals across the loom corresponding to the shuttle-pitches; drive means for causing selected groups of heddles to execute said movements; a movementimparting element coupled with each of the heddles of a first phase and a movement-imparting element coupled with each of the heddles of a second phase, the heddles and the movement-imparting elements linked therewith being disposed in one plane and being movable therein; and a plurality of openings formed in said apparatus receiving said movement-imparting elements, each opening having a configuration that permits the heddles of said first phase and of said second phase and the movement-imparting members linked therewith respectively to move relatively to each other in an unrestricted manner when driven by said drive means.
 2. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 1 in which in each group of heddles, the heddles for like threads of the draw-in repeats are motionally connected to at least one movement-imparting element and in the range of each shuttle-pitch, movement-imparting elements that are motionally connected to heddles for like threads of the draw-in repeats in differently phased groups of heddles, are disposed in the same plane.
 3. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 2 in which in each group of heddles in a shuttle-pitch, a movement-imparting element is motionally connected to the heddles for like threads of the draw-in repeats and the heddles belonging to a given thread in the draw-in repeats of a shuttle-pitch and their associated movement-imparting elements are disposed in the same plane, so that the number of movement-imparting elements in each plane is equal to the number of differently phased groups per shuttle-pitch.
 4. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 2 in which in each group of heddles, the heddles for the different threads of the draw-in repeats are each motionally connected to a movement-imparting element; And these movement-imparting elements, together with the heddles motionally connected to them, are disposed in different planes, so that the number of planes in which movement-imparting elements and heddles motionally connected thereto are arranged, is equal to the number of threads per draw-in repeat.
 5. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 2 in which in immediately successive groups of like phase, the heddles of like threads of the draw-in repeats are motionally connected to movement-imparting elements, the movements of which follow each other at an interval which is equal to the time taken by a shuttle to travel over on shuttle-pitch.
 6. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 1 in which in the case of a two-thread repeat, each of said groups having heddles that form half of the shed formation and that are each motionally connected to a movement-imparting element, the motionally connected heddles and the movement-imparting elements being arranged in a first plane, and those heddles in each of the groups that form the other half of the shed formation each being motionally connected to a movement-imparting element; the heddles forming the other half of the shed formation and the movement-imparting elements associated therewith being arranged in a second plane which is different from the first plane.
 7. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 1 in which three to six groups of heddles are provided over one shuttle-pitch, said last-mentioned groups, during operation of the loom, having a difference in phase which is of equal magnitude between neighboring groups.
 8. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 1 in which said heddles are guided by guide means and are each movable in directions along its longitudinal axis.
 9. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 8 in which the guide means for the heddles comprise flat, broad-faced guide elements, said heddles being arranged parallel with the sides of the guide elements.
 10. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 9 in which the broad-faced guide elements perform the additional function of guiding swingable reeds which serve to move the shuttles across the loom.
 11. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 8 in which the heddles lying in said plane are arranged alongside each other and parallel with each other in a row, and said guide means comprise a plurality of said movement-imparting elements in the form of rods disposed parallel with said plane.
 12. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 11 in which the heddles are each provided with said openings in the form of slots extending in the longitudinal direction thereof, and said rods pass through said slots, the lengths of the slots permitting unrestricted relative movement between the rods and the heddles in the longitudinal direction of the heddles, and the widths of the slots being determined by boundaries within which the rods lie.
 13. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 11 in which the rods are disposed transversely of flat broad-faced guide elements positioned between and parallel with the heddles and are held by slots contained in said heddles.
 14. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 1 in which the movement-imparting elements comprise rods that are disposed transversely of the heddles and that pass through orifices in the heddles motionally connected thereto, the rods bearing flat against the boundaries of the orifices in the direction of movement of the heddles.
 15. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 14 in which said openings comprise slots arranged along the length of each of said heddles, and the rods that pass through orifices in the heddles motionally connected therewith pass through the slots in the heddles not motionally connected therewith, said rods constituting means for guiding the heddles.
 16. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 15 in which each of the heddles is of elongate shape, contains an orifice through which can pass the movement-imparting element motionally connected thereto, and contains at least one opening in the form of a slot extending in thE longitudinal direction of the heddle, through which can be passed a movement-imparting element for moving other heddles, this latter movement-imparting element being movable in an unrestricted manner in the longitudinal direction of the slot.
 17. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 16 in which the number of slots in the heddles is one less than the number of groups into which the heddles are divided over the distance equal to a shuttle-pitch.
 18. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 14 in which the movement-imparting elements can be driven via said selected groups of heddles by drive means positioned in at least two drive points disposed approximately symmetrically in relation to the centers of the movement-imparting elements.
 19. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 18 in which said selected group of heddles include the heddles of one group which are present at the drive points and which execute like movements, and said driving means includes a retaining member which holds all of the heddles of said one group.
 20. A shed-forming apparatus on a wave-type loom wherein separate sheds move one after the other across the width of the loom, a plurality of shuttles, each carrying a weft thread, continuously move one after the other along a path through the loom, a shuttle moving in each of the separate sheds, and the warp threads forming the sheds are actuated by heddles; said apparatus comprising a plurality of heddles for forming the warp threads into sheds, said heddles being divided into groups that execute phase displaced movements in accordance with the order in which the groups are arranged across the loom, the periodicity of these movements being repeated at intervals across the loom corresponding to the shuttle-pitches; movement-imparting elements, the heddles of one phase in each group being coupled with one of said movement-imparting elements, the heddles which have differently phased movements being coupled with different movement-imparting elements, the movement-imparting elements and the heddles linked therewith being disposed in a single plane and being movable therein; drive means for effecting movement of the movement-imparting elements, and a plurality of openings formed in said movement-imparting elements, each opening having a configuration that permits differently phased groups of heddles and movement-imparting elements linked with these groups to move relatively to each other in an unrestricted manner when driven by said drive means.
 21. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 20 in which the movement-imparting elements comprise heddle frames, the heddle frames located in the same plane being arranged concentrically one within the other; said openings being provided in each of the heddle frames and the heddles secured to the other heddle frames being free to move in their longitudinal directions through said openings.
 22. The shed-forming apparatus of claim 21 in which each heddle frame is connected to drive elements of said drive means, the drive element of at least one heddle frame passing through the openings in the other heddle frames, thereby enabling an independent movement of these parts. 